The MLB trade deadline is at the end of the week and deals are starting to go down, as the New York Mets have traded for reliever Tyler Clippard from the Oakland Athletics, while the Los Angeles Angels have brought in outfielder Shane Victorino from the Boston Red Sox. Late on Monday, Troy Tulowitzki was traded to the Blue Jays.
UPDATE: According to Fox Sports and ESPN, Troy Tulowitzki has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. Ken Rosenthal reports that Jose Reyes is going back in the deal and that the shortstop has been traded along with minor leaguers to the Rockies.
The Mets already pulled off a deal with the Atlanta Braves for Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe to help the offense and now they add another solid arm in the bullpen. The Mets reportedly are still in the market for another outfielder and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports that the team is acquiring Clippard for right-handed prospect Casey Meisner.
The Angels have also jumped in on the trade market, acquiring Shane Victorino from the Boston Red Sox to help with their outfield. According to Hardball Talk, the Angels gave up infielder Josh Rutledge in the deal. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, there is also money coming, with the Red Sox paying just under $4 million out of the $4.9 million left on Victorino's deal. Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports reports that the Angels may look at Victorino as a "fourth outfielder" option.
The Athletics already traded Scott Kazmir and they are expected to move Clippard and Ben Zobrist at the trading deadline. Clippard now heads to New York and he brings a 2.79 ERA in 37 games for Oakland with 38 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched. The Mets have lacked depth in the bullpen with Bobby Parnell coming back from surgery and the team knows that Jenrry Mejia will not be eligible for the postseason. Clippard could be used as a set up man for Jeurys Familia and he also is capable of closing if needed.
Clippard has been the closer for the Athletics and he has gone 17-of-21 this season in save chances and the Post reports that Oakland will be paying $1 million in the deal. The Mets will take care of the rest of the contract and now the team is still in position to make more trades, as they have not given up any major prospects in their two deals with the A's and the Braves. Meisner was a third round pick in 2013 and he comes in after pitching in Class A Savannah and High-A St. Lucie.
Hardball Talk reports that the Angles have been interested in adding an outfielder and now they have brought in Victorino. The team has had reported interest in Jay Bruce and Ben Zobrist this season. Victorino comes in hitting .245 in 33 games played this season and he will be a free agent in the winter.
Check here for more on the MLB trade deadline and the deal with Clippard.
